Credit card verification helps to prevent the registration of faulty or fraudulent bidders, and a valid credit card verifies that a registering bidder is a real person. This security measure ensures the safety of current buyers and sellers and the integrity of auctions. All credit card information is secured and cannot be accessed by anyone inside, or outside of BidNow.us (PCI compliant).

BidNow.us validates credit cards immediately upon registration. As stated above, the validation process is performed only to verify the authenticity of the card and the bidder. Validation consists of an authorization transaction of $0.00 to $0.01, depending on card type, and an immediate void of that authorization transaction.

BidNow.us believes in providing the highest level of security when managing your information. Any questions related to validation, account security or transactions should be directed to the Account Services department, via E-mail.

You can register to bid by clicking the "Register to Bid" button on the BidNow.us home page.

Read through the "Auction Terms And Conditions" and click the "Click here to continue the registration process" link.

Fill in the required information (which includes creating a password - we suggest something short and easy to remember, at least 4 characters long), submit the information, and you will instantly receive an e-mail with your permanent online bidder number. (NOTE: If you do not receive an email, look in your spam/junk-mail folder). If you need assistance, please call the Main Office (989.823.8835), and someone will be available to answer your questions or get you registered over the phone.

Click the "Forgot Bidder # or PW?" link at the top of the Registration form. Enter your email address in the appropriate space, click "Search," and your bidder number and password will be instantly emailed to that address. You may also call the Main Office during regular business hours at 989.823.8835.

No. In order to display the current timer, bid amount and current winning bidder, you will need to click the "Refresh" button as often as is needed. The listings will also refresh when you move from page to page or use the "Open Items" feature at the close of the auction. (See FAQ's: "What’s the easiest way to watch the auction close?" for more information.)

During the auction: Locate the item in the auction listings to see if your bidder number is in the "Winning Bidder" column. You may also use the "Review Bids" feature to see if you are winning any items that you are currently bidding on. (See FAQ's: "Can I create a 'Watch List' of items that I'm interested in?")

After the auction ends: E-mail notifications are sent out to all winning bidders. You may also view the auction listings after the auction has ended to see if your bidder number is in the "Winning Bidder" column (the word "ended" will appear next to the bid amount).

The "Bid Extension Period" is a feature designed to allow all bidders the opportunity to submit their highest offer without having to worry about "last second" bids.

On the final day of the auction, the bidding time remaining on an item will display below the "Maximum Bid" box. If an item receives a bid within the last 3 minutes of its closing, bidding time will be extended on that specific item. When bidding is extended, the countdown timer will turn red. Bidding will close on an item when there is no more bidding activity within the bid extension period. NOTE: The "Bid Extension Period" may be longer for land auctions or offsite auctions. Please check the terms of the specified auction or call the Main Office at 989.823.8835.

Group extension will work in harmony with our existing automatic Bid Extension feature (See FAQ's: "What is a 'Bid Extension Period'?"). Albrecht Auction will sometimes group together similar items in an online auction and place them in a "Bid Extension Group." If a bid is placed on a grouped item within the last three minutes of its closing, ALL ITEMS WITHIN THAT GROUP will receive an automatic extension of the bid time remaining! When no more bidding has occurred on any item in a group for the specified time, all items in that group will close simultaneously.

NOTE: When similar items are included in a Bid Extension Group, you can bid aggressively on any one item in the group until you have met/exceeded the price you are willing to pay for that item. You can then shift to any other item in the group without worrying that it closed out while you were aggressively bidding on another. Items in a Bid Extension Group will be labeled with a bold "GRP," followed by a number corresponding to the other grouped items.

After an auction begins closing, you will be able to view all "Open Items" that bidding has not yet closed on. The "Open Items" link (located towards the top center of a page of listings in the "Select Category" drop-down menu; also located just above the item listings on the right-hand side of the page) works just like a "Refresh" link, but for ALL ITEMS listed in the auction.

After you click on the "Select Category" box towards the top of any page of item listings, a menu will drop down. Click on "ALL OPEN ITEMS" and only items currently open for bidding will display on the page. NOTE: The "Open Items" category/link appears ONLY AFTER the auction begins closing.

A typical online consignment auction will be open 4 days for bidding. Dates will be listed on the Auctions Calendar page and in the terms of each auction. Most auctions feature staggered closing times (not all items will close at the same time). This allows bidders the opportunity to watch and bid on more items during the closing of the auction.

You must first bid on an item in order for it to be placed on your "Watch List." After entering your login information, click "Review Bids" (next to the "Submit Bids" button at the bottom of a page of item listings) to review a listing of the items you have bid on.

"REVIEW BIDS" LIST:

If you have been outbid on an item, a red arrow will appear next to the "Next Required Bid" amount (You may place bids or watch an auction close from this list). If you do not want an item to appear on your "Review Bids" list, do not bid on it. Once an item is bid on, it will be on your "Review Bids" list for the duration of the auction.

Specific preview times are listed in the terms of each auction and the auction calendar page. It is highly recommend that you attend a scheduled preview to inspect items before bidding. If you are not able to inspect listed items during one of our regularly scheduled preview days, feel free to call or E-mail us to verify item descriptions.

Yes. You may raise your "Maximum Bid," even if you are the current winning bidder. When you - as the current winning bidder - raise your "Maximum Bid," the system will alert you that "You are already the winning bidder on one (or more) items." Click "OK" and "Submit Bids" to continue. NOTE: When you raise your "Maximum Bid," it may or may not raise your current bid amount by one bid increment (depending on how your previous max bid was entered). Please E-mail or call (989.823.8835) if you have any questions!

No. If you want to place a bid of $5, you may simply enter a "5" (not "5.00") in the appropriate box. If, however, you wanted to place a bid of $5.50, you would have to enter "5.50". If you enter "550," you will be placing a bid of $550. This is the number 1 bidding error that a bidders encounter, so be careful how you use (or do not use) the decimal place, and be sure to review your bid BEFORE submitting it. Every bid placed should be considered binding.

In order to bid, you must first register (click the "Register to Bid" button on the menu at the top of the homepage). Read through the terms, fill in the required personal information, submit it, and you will instantly receive an e-mail containing your permanent online Bidder Number.

2. Scroll through the listings to find/enter the auction you would like to participate in.

3. Locate the item that you would like to bid on (You may find an item by using the “Keywords” search, browsing through categories, or browsing the full listings).

4. Place your "Maximum Bid" in the box to the far right of the item listing (The column will be titled "Maximum Bid” - Scroll to the top of the page to see column headings).

5. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

6. Enter your Bidder Number and Password in the appropriately labeled boxes, and click "Submit Bids."

7. Read and follow the on-screen instructions. After agreeing to the terms of sale and verifying your bid amount (if the bid amount shown is incorrect, click “cancel bid and return to previous screen”), you may then “Submit Bid(s).”

NOTE: A "Maximum Bid" is your top-dollar bid. When you place a "Maximum Bid," the system will bid for you (up to that top-dollar amount) as other bidders bid against you. If the bidding stops before the bid reaches your top-dollar amount, you will purchase the item at the current bid price (which may be significantly less than the "Maximum Bid" amount you placed). E-mail us at info@bidnow.us if you have any questions. If you have mistakenly placed a bid, contact our Main Office (989.823.8835) as soon as possible.

A "Maximum Bid" is your top-dollar bid. When you place a "Maximum Bid," the BidNow system will bid for you (up to that top-dollar amount) as other bidders bid against you. If the bidding stops before the bid reaches your top-dollar amount, you will purchase the item at the current bid price (which may be significantly less than the "Maximum Bid" amount you placed). A "Maximum Bid" is unknown to other bidders and sellers until a bid has been placed that eclipses your top-dollar amount. Please consider placing your max bids early and allowing the BidNow system to keep you in the lead at the lowest increment possible. This will allow you the chance to win an item, even if you are away from your computer!

Yes. Limited storage space is available for those who cannot pick up their items on scheduled checkout dates. One storage duration period will consist of 2 weeks of scheduled checkout (at the same location) and the time between the two. For example, if an auction were to end on Jan 13th, the item would be stored the duration of checkout week (Jan 14th - Jan 18th), the time between checkout weeks (Jan 19th - Jan 27th), and the duration of the following checkout week (Jan 28th - Feb 1st). Storage fees will primarily be based on the number of items and the size of the items you are putting in storage - $5 Minimum charge. Contact the Main Office (989.823.8835) for more information.

Yes. Forklift assistance is available at both Vassar locations. Forklift assistance is for your convenience only, and BidNow.us/Albrecht Auction WILL NOT be responsible for any damages incurred to your item/vehicle/trailer during loading or unloading. Checkout workers may also be of assistance to help load/unload larger items, such as furniture or appliances (feel free to tip a worker if they are providing good service). If you are in a hurry on a checkout day, please be patient and consider bringing your own assistance. You may also utilize any available flatbed cart, furniture dollies, etc. at the facility.

Again, free help is being offered for your convenience, and BidNow.us/Albrecht Auction will not be liable for damages done to your item/vehicle/trailer during loading or unloading.

No. If, however, you do not complete payment within the required amount of time following an auction, BidNow.us/Albrecht Auction does reserve the right to do this. It is recommended that you complete payment when you come to pick up your items during scheduled checkout days, but you may also make payment through Paypal or by credit card (over the phone).

In-house shipping may be available for smaller items (via UPS or US Mail within the continental US). Actual shipping/insurance costs will be charged, including the cost of packing materials and a modest handling fee. Items that are large or fragile may be shipped by a professional shipping and crating service for a "pick-up/delivery-to-the-store" fee and additional packing/shipping fees.

If you would like for your item to be shipped to you, please e-mail your credit card number and shipping information to info@bidnow.us or call the Main Office at 989.823.8835. Please indicate your 1) buyer number, 2) the auction your items were purchased in, 3) the items you'd like to be shipped, and 4) the best way to contact you. List of charges: Purchase price of auction items, boxing fee, UPS/USPS Mail charge. NOTE: UPS/USPS is not priced in advance - the shipment is prepped, weighed, and shipped.

Accepted forms of payment are: Cash, Michigan Check (with Driver's License), PayPal or Visa/MC/Discover - Some offsite auctions will not offer the option of paying through PayPal or by Credit Card (see Auction Terms). NOTE: No Credit Card payments or PayPal will be accepted on individual items selling for over $2,500.00. No out-of-state checks will be accepted. No personal checks written for over $500 will be accepted without pre-approval. If you need to pay with a personal check, and your invoice balance exceeds $500, please call the Main Office at 989.823.8835. You can make payment when you come to pick up your items on regularly scheduled checkout dates.

Invoices are e-mailed to all winning bidders within 24 hours of the close of the auction. The invoice will note the selling price of the item, an added Buyer’s Premium of 10% (for General Consignment Auctions), and 6% Sales Tax - if applicable. NOTE: Buyer's Premium may vary with other types of auctions - See Auction Terms.

We understand that sometimes you are bidding on multiple items and end up winning a single minor item that is not worth the drive to pick up. You can pay for the item by credit card and then leave it to bidnow.us to dispose of or you can consign the item to the next auction and pay the normal consignment rates when it is sold.

A buyer’s premium is a percentage added to the final bid price which goes to the auction company. If there is a 10% buyer’s premium charged, a $10 item would end up costing $11 plus tax. The tax is charged on the total purchase price (which is the bid price plus the premium). The buyer’s premium percentage amount varies from auction to auction and can be found by looking at the terms of each auction.

We have general online consignment auctions at two different locations in Vassar approx. every 2 weeks. We are always looking for consignments of farm and construction equipment, tools, shop equipment, vehicles, rv’s, atv’s, guns and sporting goods, furniture, antiques and collectibles, good glass and china, toys, coins, jewelry, etc. Please email or call our office to request the consignment rates for selling your items.

We also have ‘Statewide Farm and Construction Equip. Auctions’ every other month where sellers can leave the equipment on their own premises and avoid costly moving expense and hassle. Please email or call our office and request information for the ‘Statewide Consignment Auction’.

We will also travel to a seller’s location to conduct an online or live auction if there are enough items of value to warrant on ‘onsite’ auction. Please email or call for appointment with one of our sales agents.

We have a contract available for you to download and bring with you when dropping off your items. You can put a simple description of each lot on the contract and then make a copy for yourself or we can make a copy for you. We also ask that you fill out a 3”x5” index card for each lot describing the item. List all pertinent information on the index card such as brand name, condition, age if known, measurements, etc. Bring scotch tape with you to fasten the cards to your items (we can provide tape if you forget). We have outdoor tags for your outdoor items but still need the 3”x5” index cards describing these items.

You can also fill out the contract and index cards when you drop off your items if you are unable to ahead of time.